Bonus #6 Francis Street, Bedford Dwellings, Pittsburgh took place on April 4, 2022, and was published on April 13, 2022.
Many modern-era humans love constructing fences. These structures keep people, and many creatures, out of a designated area, while simultaneously keeping other people and creatures enclosed. Think zoos, prisons, gated communities, and the like. When you’re on the outside of a fence, the feeling of exclusion or prohibition is intentional, but the inside of a fenced area can feel equally unsettling. The fishbowl-like quality of these spaces has a mystique suffused with isolation and intentional “otherness.” This large section of fenced-in land has had many uses since Bedford Street appeared in 1855 and, until recently, was a community garden. Despite the copiously posted No Hunting signs, a fearless little killer easily passed through the wire and chain contraptions and chose to make the Garden of Hope their final resting place. Rest in power, my friend! I think about this bit of beautiful and tragic irony as I trek across the long-fallow land and climb through a human-sized opening, trading inside for outside.
Field Notes: Following along from Bonus #5, this area was recently the Garden of Hope but is now empty. But there are still plenty of old signs and markers that show the passage of time. When looking at the historical maps, there were many different enterprises that occupied this spot: a municipal hospital, a “pest house” (whatever that would have meant – maybe animals?), and public housing. Hopefully, this big parcel of land finds a new use soon, it’s in such an ideal location.
Love city steps? Get yourself the latest issue of Mis.Steps: Our Missed Connections with Pittsburgh’s City Steps! Each copy is unique and features 10 randomly selected “trading cards” of Pittsburgh’s 739 public stairways. Visit the Mis.Steps online store to see all issues and place your order.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
Be a good neighbor! Have you visited these stairs and found them in poor condition or that illegal dumping (large items like tires, old furniture, and construction debris) and trash were abundant in the area? There are two things you can do to take action and make our city steps cleaner and safer for everyone! First, grab a photo if you can, and submit a report to Pittsburgh 311. All problems, both broken stairs, and railings, as well as trash and dumping, should be reported to the city. You can easily do this online or by calling.
